Device for processing a content signal that represents a content in accordance with a specific type of content comprising data carrier means for in putting content-type selection information

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) for processing a content signal (CS) that represents a content in accordance with a specific type of content is provided with receiving means ( 8 ) which are designed in an adjustable manner for receiving, with the aid of content-type selection information (CSI) that can be input into the device ( 1 ), a content signal (CS), the content type of which corresponds to the input content-type selection information (CSI), for the purpose of inputting the content-type selection information (CSI) there being provided data-carrier accessing means ( 11 ) which are designed for accessing content-type selection information (CSI) stored in a data carrier ( 2 ) that can be made accessible to the data-carrier accessing means ( 11 ).

The invention relates to a device which is designed for processing acontent signal that represents a content in accordance with a specifictype of content and is equipped with receiving means which are designedin an adjustable manner for receiving, with the aid of content-typeselection information enabling the selection of a type of content, thecontent signal that represents a content, the type of which correspondsto the content-type selection information, and is equipped withinputting means which are designed for inputting the content-typeselection information for the purpose of adjusting the receiving means.

The invention further relates to a data carrier in which accessibleinformation is stored.

The invention further relates to a method for making availablecontent-type selection information in a device for processing a contentsignal that represents a content that is assigned to a specific contenttype, the method comprising the steps listed below: receipt ofcontent-type selection information which can be input with the aid ofinputting means on the device, a content signal being receivable in anadjustable manner by receiving means on the device with the aid ofcontent-type selection information that can be input, which contentsignal represents a content, the type of which corresponds to thecontent-type selection information.

A device of this kind as set forth in the first paragraph, and a datacarrier of this kind as set forth in the second paragraph, and a methodof this kind as set forth in the third paragraph are known from thepatent document EP 0 813 302 A1.

The known device with which the known method can be implemented andwhich is equipped with the known data carrier is a portable device forreceiving a content signal, where the received content signal can eachtime be assigned to a specific content type. The known device enables auser to enjoy, acoustically or visually, a content type preferred byhim, without any knowledge being required of him concerning anassignment between a transmission channel or a transmission frequencyband or a transmission time of a content signal and the content typepreferred by him. This assignment is stored in the known device with theaid of the known data carrier. The known device is equipped withinputting means that can be operated by a user, with the aid of whichinputting means content-type selection information can be input by theuser of the device for selecting a content type preferred by the user.

With the known device, the problem exists that the content-typeselection information has to be input in a relatively complicated,laborious manner by the user of the device with the aid of theoperator-controllable inputting means. This is disadvantageous since amistake may occur when inputting into the device, leading to the devicemalfunctioning or failing to operate at all. It should further be statedthat, if the known device is used in a motor vehicle, the problem mayoccur that, as the result of maloperation, a user of the devicerepeatedly attempts to input content-type selection information, as aresult of which the user's attention is diverted from the trafficsituation.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the problems cited abovein a device of the kind set forth in the first paragraph and a method ofthe kind set forth in the second paragraph, and a data carrier of kindset forth in the third paragraph, and to create an improved device andan improved data carrier and an improved method.

To achieve the object cited above, in accordance with the invention, theinputting means in a device of the kind set forth in the first paragraphcontain data-carrier accessing means that are designed to interact witha data carrier and, for the purpose of inputting the content-typeselection information into the device, are designed for accessingcontent-type selection information stored in a data carrier that can bemade accessible to the data-carrier accessing means.

To achieve the object cited above, in accordance with the invention in adata carrier of the kind set forth in the second paragraph at leastparts of the stored information form content-type selection informationwhich, when the data carrier is made accessible to data-carrieraccessing means of a device for processing a content signal, can beaccessed with the aid of the data-carrier accessing means for thepurpose of inputting the content-type selection information into thedevice.

To achieve the object cited above, in accordance with the invention amethod of the kind set forth in the third paragraph for the purpose ofinputting the content-type selection information with the aid of thedata-carrier accessing means of the device, content-type selectioninformation stored in a data carrier that can be made accessible to thedata-carrier accessing means, is accessed.

Through the provision of the measures in accordance with the invention,it is achieved in an advantageous manner that content-type selectioninformation can be input by a user in a very simple manner, whileavoiding the possibility of maloperation by a user. Furthermore, theadvantage is obtained that, depending on the particular data carriermade accessible to the data-carrier accessing means of the device, andon the content-type selection information stored in the data carrier, anunambiguous inputting of the content-type selection information and,primarily, one that can be reproduced free from errors, is ensured.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if the data-carrier accessing means are designed torecognize identification data stored on the data carrier, whichidentification data is provided for marking the content-type selectioninformation. This gives rise to the advantage that the content-typeselection information stored in a data carrier can be unambiguouslyidentified.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if the data-carrier accessing means are designed foraccessing content-type selection information stored in anidentification-data area of the data carrier, the identification-dataarea being provided for identifying the data carrier. This give rise tothe advantage that, as soon as the data carrier is made accessible tothe data-carrier accessing means, the existence of content-typeselection information can be established in the course of anidentification of the data carrier.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if the data-carrier accessing means are designed foraccessing reminder information assigned to an item of content-typeselection information, which reminder information is stored,additionally to the content-type selection information, in a datacarrier that can be made accessible to the data-carrier accessing meansand represents a part of a content type, the part of the content typealready having been received by the receiving means, using thecontent-type selection information, with the aid of a content signalwhich represents a content, the content type of which corresponded tothe content-type selection information and if the receiving means aredesigned, taking account of the reminder information, for receiving acontent signal, the content type of which corresponds to thecontent-type selection information. This gives rise to the advantagethat, for example in the case where a content signal has as its contentan episode from a series of a television or radio program comprisingseveral episodes, it can be reliably ensured that it is always thelatest episode that is received and that an unwanted reception ofrepeats of an episode already received in the past can be avoided.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if the receiving means are equipped with a receiving stagewhich is designed in an adjustable manner for receiving a contentsignal, with the aid of an adjusting signal that can be fed to it, andif the receiving means are equipped with an adjusting stage, which isdesigned for generating and delivering the adjusting signal for thereceiving stage, with the aid of content-type selection information andcontent-type information that can be fed to it, the content-typeinformation representing a content type of a content signal that can bereceived with the aid of the receiving stage. This gives rise to theadvantage that a reliable adjustment of the receiving stage takes place,taking account of the actually present content type of a content signalthat can be received with the aid of the receiving stage.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if content information can be fed to the adjusting stagewith the aid of a content signal that can be received. This gives riseto the advantage that the assignment of a content signal to a specificcontent type can be undertaken on the basis of the content signalreceived in each case. This gives rise to the further advantage that theadjustment of the receiving stage for the purpose of receiving a contentsignal, the content type of which corresponds to the content-typeselection information, can be undertaken by testing all content signalsthat can be received in respect of their actual content type, and byselecting a content signal that is preferred in respect of its contenttype.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if a communication stage is assigned to the receivingmeans, which communication stage is designed for communicating with acontent-type information data source, the content-type information datasource being provided for supplying content-type information, and whichis designed for feeding content-type information supplied by thecontent-type information data source to the adjusting stage as a resultof a communication with the content-type information data source. Thisgives rise to the advantage that the assignment of a content signal to aspecific content type can be ascertained irrespective of the contentsignal being received at the moment or of a content signal that cancurrently be received.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if recording means are provided, with the aid of which,taking account of a recording control signal, a recording can be made ina controllable manner of a content signal that can be received with theaid of the receiving means, and if the receiving means are designed forgenerating and delivering the recording control signal to the recordingmeans if the content type of the content of the content signal receivedcorresponds to the content-type selection information. This gives riseto the advantage that a recording of a content signal can be undertakenonly if the content type of the content signal received corresponds tothe content-type selection information which is stored in a data carriermade accessible to the data-carrier accessing means.

In a solution in accordance with the invention, it has further provedadvantageous if the recording means are realized by the data-carrieraccessing means, and if the data-carrier accessing means are designedfor recording the content signal on a data carrier that can be madeaccessible to them. This gives rise to the advantage that a recording ofa content signal on a data carrier containing the content-type selectioninformation can be undertaken if the content type of the content signalreceived corresponds to the content-type selection information. Thisfurther gives rise to the advantage that the recording of a contentsignal assigned to a content type that is not wanted by the user of adevice or by a manufacturer of the data carrier or by a sales or rentalcompany that sells or rents out the data carrier to the user of thedevice can be avoided in a reliable manner. This further gives rise tothe advantage that an unintentional or undesired overwriting of acontent signal already recorded on the data carrier, which contentsignal is assigned to a specific—preferred or predefined—content type,with a content signal, the content type of which does not correspond tothe specific content type, can be avoided in a reliable manner even inthe event that the user mistakenly commands, either manually or in avoice-controlled manner, a recording of this content signal notcorresponding in respect of its content type with the specific contenttype. This further gives rise to the advantage that, for example, therecording of episodes of a series can be undertaken without interventionby a user, particularly avoiding a timer programming operation which isnormally laborious for the user and also usually complex and susceptibleto error.

The aspects cited above and further aspects of the invention areillustrated and explained by the embodiments described below.

The invention will be further described with reference to twoembodiments shown in the drawings, to which, however, the invention isnot restricted.

FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a block diagram, a device in accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic manner, a data carrier that can be scannedin an optical manner and can be used in the device in accordance withFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, in a manner analogous to FIG. 1, a device in accordancewith a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows, in the form of a diagram, a program plan of threedifferent broadcasting stations for a television series.

FIG. 1 shows a device 1, which is designed for processing a contentsignal CS that represents a content in accordance with a specific typeof content, which content signal CS can be received and/or reproducedand, if applicable, can also be stored. Specifically, the device 1realizes a digital versatile disc video recorder, so that, with the aidof the device 1, a video film can be recorded on a data carrier 2 inaccordance with the invention, formed by a digital versatile disc (DVD),or a video film recorded on a data carrier 2 of this kind can be playedback.

A video film can be broadcast with the aid of a transmission signal Sfrom a broadcasting station 3, is equipped for this purpose with atransmission device 4 and a transmission-antenna configuration 5connected to the transmission device. A transmission channel or atransmission frequency band is assigned to the transmission signal S.The transmission signal S exhibits a content signal CS, which representsa content (i.e. a video film) in accordance with a specific type ofcontent, which content signal CS is broadcast at a specific transmissiontime. Depending on the video film being broadcast at a given time, thetype of content, i.e. the particular genre to which the video film canbe assigned, is defined, such as a western, science fiction, scientific,news and so forth. It should be mentioned that the term “type ofcontent” may also relate to a series of video films that can be assignedto one another, such as “The Star Wars Trilogy” or “The Lord of theRings”, so the content signal CS may represent an episode, i.e. a partof the content, that is an individual video film from a series. Itshould be mentioned that the term “type of content” may also relate toan actor appearing in a group of video films, or to a plurality ofactors appearing in a group of video films; the individual video filmsof a group of this kind can then be assigned to the most diverse topicareas. It should further be mentioned that the term “video film” shouldbe understood as meaning any unit of audiovisual information that can bebroadcast by the broadcasting station 3, i.e. including periodically ornon-periodically broadcast lifestyle programs or recordings such as the“Telebörse on NTV” or “The Evening News on RTL”.

Furthermore, the transmission signal S may exhibit, in addition to thecontent signal CS, a first item of content-type information CI1, whichindicates the type of content to which the content of the content signalCS is assigned.

It should be mentioned at this point that the broadcasting station 3 isshown in FIG. 1 to represent a plurality of broadcasting stations; itgoes without saying for the expert that, simultaneously with the signalS assigned to broadcasting station 3, a plurality of signals assigned toother broadcasting stations can be broadcast from each of thesebroadcasting stations, so that, simultaneously on different transmissionchannels, content signals are broadcast, the contents of which can beassigned to one content type or to different content types.

FIG. 1 also shows a content-type information data source 6, which isrealized with the aid of a server provided for storing or for supplying,on request, a second item of content-type information CS, which enablesassignment between a transmission channel or a transmission frequencyband and a transmission time on the one hand, and a content signal CS onthe other for a specific type of content. The content-type informationdata source 6 is further designed for communicating via a data network 7connected to it, via which data network 7 a request information RI canbe fed to the content-type information data source 6 to request thesecond content-type information CI2, the request information RIessentially representing the type of content, for which type of contentthe assignment cited above is to be requested. The content-typeinformation data source 6 is further designed for delivering therequested second content-type information CI2 via the data network 7.The data network 7 is realized by the Internet in the present case. Itshould, however, be mentioned that any other network suitable for datacommunication may also be used.

The device 1 is equipped with receiving means 8 and inputting means 9,further details of which means 8 and 9 are given below.

The receiving means 8 are designed in an adjustable manner forreceiving, with the aid of a content-type selection information CSIenabling the selection of a type of content, the content signal CS,which represents a content, the content type of which corresponds to thecontent-type selection information CSI. To this end, the receiving means8 are connected to a receiving-antenna configuration 10, with the aid ofwhich the transmission signal S that can be broadcast from thetransmission-antenna configuration 5, can be fed to the receiving means8. The receiving means 8 are further designed for receiving thecontent-type selection information CSI from the inputting means 9.Further, the receiving means 8 are connected to a reproduction means 10,so that the content signal CS contained in the transmission signal Sthat can be received can be delivered to the reproduction means 10. Thereproduction means 10 is designed for reproducing the content signal CS,and is realized in the present case by a television set connected to thedevice 1. It should, however, be mentioned that the reproduction means10 may also be formed by a component of the device 1.

The inputting means 9 are designed for inputting the content-typeselection information CSI and for delivering the input content-typeselection information CSI to the receiving means 8 for the purpose ofadjusting the receiving means 8. In accordance with the invention, theinputting means 9 contain data-carrier accessing means 11, which aredesigned for interacting with the data carrier 2, and which, for thepurpose of inputting the content-type selection information CSI intodevice 1, are designed for accessing the content-type selectioninformation CSI that is stored in the data carrier 2, which can be madeaccessible to the data-carrier accessing means 11.

The data carrier 2 in accordance with the invention, as shown in detailin FIG. 2, is designed for storing information along a track 12 betweena first point P1 of track the 12 and a second point P2 of the track 12,which information can be recorded or read in an optical manner along thetrack 12. Accordingly, access can be had to the information stored indata carrier 2 by optical scanning of the data carrier 2. The track 12is essentially divided into an identification-data area 13 and arecording-data area 14, the two areas 13 and 14 being separated fromeach other by a third point P3. The recording-data area 14 is providedfor storing recording data RD which represents the content signal CS,for example, a video film. The identification-data area 13 is providedfor storing identification data which is provided for identifying thedata carrier 2 or for identifying and locating the recording data RDstored on data carrier 2. In the present case, recording data RDrepresenting a video film has already been recorded on the data carrier2 between the third point P3 and a fourth point P4.

In accordance with the invention, at least one part of the storedinformation forms a content-type selection information CIS, to which,when the data carrier 2 is made accessible to the data-carrier accessingmeans 11 of the device 1, shown in FIG. 1, for processing a contentsignal CS, access can be had, with the aid of data-carrier accessingmeans 11, for the purpose of inputting the content-type selectioninformation CSI into the device 1 by optical scanning of the track 12.The content-type selection information CSI is stored in theidentification-data area 13. It should, however, be mentioned that thecontent-type selection information CSI may also be stored in therecording-data area 14 or partly in the identification-data area 13 andpartly in the recording-data area 14.

In the data carrier 2 are further stored first identification data SI1and second identification data SI2, which are provided for marking thecontent-type selection information CSI. The first identification dataS11 is stored between a fifth point P5 and a sixth point P6 along thetrack 12 within the identification-data area 13, and marks a start ofthe content-type selection information CSI. The second identificationdata S12 is stored between a seventh point P7 and an eighth point P8along the track 12 within the identification-data area 13, and marks anend of the content-type selection information CSI.

The data carrier 2 is provided with a reminder-data area 15, which islocated between a ninth point P9 and the seventh point P7 along thetrack 12 within the identification-data area 13. The reminder-data area15 is provided for storing reminder information REM, which represents apart of a type of content, which part of the type of content has alreadybeen received in the past, with the aid of the content-type selectioninformation CSI stored on the data carrier 2, by the receiving means 8of the device 1, as shown in FIG. 1, with the aid of a content signalCS, which represents a content, the content type of which correspondedto the content-type selection information CSI stored in the data carrier2. These circumstances should not be confused with a directory of thedata carrier 2 that is sufficiently well known to the expert, andtherefore not shown in FIG. 1, which directory is known to represent thecontent of the recording data RD currently stored on the data carrier 2;in the present case, no further details will be given of the directoryof the data carrier 2, since it is not relevant to the invention. In thepresent case, the reminder information REM forms a component of thecontent-type selection information CSI. It should, however, be mentionedthat the reminder-data area 15 may also be located outside the twoidentification data SI1 and SI2 or within the recording-data area 14.

The data-carrier accessing means 11 are equipped with an accessing shaft11A, which is designed for interaction and for enabling accessing to thedata carrier 2. As shown symbolically in FIG. 1 with the aid of an arrowW, the data carrier 2 can be made accessible to data-carrier accessingmeans 11 in that it is introduced into the accessing shaft 11A, forexample, by a user. The data-carrier accessing means 11 are furtherequipped with drive means, not shown in FIG. 1, which are designed fordriving, in a rotatory manner, the data carrier 2 that has been madeaccessible.

The data-carrier accessing means 11 are further equipped with opticalscanning means, not shown in FIG. 1, which are designed for opticalscanning of the data carrier 2. The scanning means are further designedfor receiving recording information WI, which represents information tobe recorded, and, for the purpose of storing the information, aredesigned for writing this recording information WI in the data carrier2. The scanning means are further designed for reading the informationstored in the data carrier 2, and for generating and delivering readoutinformation PI representing this stored information.

The data-carrier accessing means 11 are designed for recognizing theidentification data SI1 and SI2 stored on the data carrier 2, and foraccessing the content-type selection information CSI stored in theidentification-data area 13 of the data carrier 2. To this end, thedata-carrier accessing means 11 are equipped with an accessing-controlstage 16, which is designed for controlling the accessing, i.e. forcontrolling the scanning means. A data carrier 2 made accessible to thedata-carrier accessing means 11 can then initially be scanned within itsidentification-data area 13, along the track 12; readout information PIcan then be delivered from the scanning means to the accessing-controlstage 16, which information PI represents the content of theidentification-data area 13. The accessing-control stage 16 is furtherdesigned for recognizing the identification data SI1 and SI2 within therecording information WI, and for extracting the content-type selectioninformation CSI from the readout information PI, and for delivering thecontent-type selection information CSI to the receiving means 8.

The data-carrier accessing means 11 are further designed for accessingthe content-type reminder information REM, which is stored in datacarrier 2 in addition to the content-type selection information CSI andwhich is assigned to the content-type selection information CSI. To thisend, the accessing-control stage 16 is designed for recognizing thereminder information REM in the readout information PI, and forextracting the reminder information REM from the readout information PI,and for delivering the reminder information REM to the receiving means8.

The data-carrier accessing means 11 are further designed for recording,along the track 12, the received content signal CS on the data carrier2, that can be made accessible to them, in the form of recording data RDwithin the recording-data area 14. In this context, the data-carrieraccessing means 11 realize recording means 11B of the device 1, with theaid of which, taking account of a recording-control signal RCS,recording of a content signal CS, which can be received with the aid ofthe receiving means 8, can be undertaken in a controllable manner on thedata carrier 2. To this end, the accessing-control stage 16 is designedfor receiving the recording-control signal RCS. The accessing-controlstage 16 is further designed for receiving the recording data RD and,for the purpose of storing the recording data RD when therecording-control signal RCS is present, for generating and deliveringto the scanning means the recording information WI which represents therecording data RD.

For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned at this point thatthe data-carrier accessing means 11 realize reproduction means 11C,which are designed for reproducing recording data RD stored in therecording-data area 14. To this end, the accessing-control stage 16 isdesigned for controlling the scanning means for the purpose ofgenerating the readout information PI which, in the present case,represents the recording data RD stored in the recording-data area 14.The accessing-control stage 16 is further designed for deliveringreproduction data WD which represents this readout information PI.

The device 1 is further equipped with signal/data conversion means 18,which are designed for receiving the content signal CS that can bedelivered by the receiving means 8, and for converting the contentsignal CS into recording data RD. The signal/data conversion means 18are further designed for delivering the recording data RD to thedata-carrier accessing means 11.

The device 1 is further equipped with data/signal conversion means 19,which are designed for receiving the reproduction data WD that can bedelivered by the data-carrier accessing means 11, and for converting thereproduction data WE into a reproduction signal WS that represents thisreproduction data WD. The data/signal conversion means 19 are furtherdesigned for delivering the reproduction signal WS to the reproductionmeans 10.

For the purpose of receiving a content signal CS, which represents acontent corresponding to the content-type selection information CSI thatcan be input with the aid of the data-carrier accessing means 11, thereceiving means 8 are equipped, in an adjustable manner, with areceiving stage 20, which is designed for receiving, with the aid of anadjusting signal C that can be fed to it, a content signal CS of thiskind. The receiving stage 20 is realized by an electronically adjustablefrequency tuning device, also referred to as a tuner for short.

The receiving means 8 are further equipped with an adjusting stage 21,which is designed for generating and for delivering the adjusting signalC for the receiving stage 20 with the aid of the content-type selectioninformation CSI that can be input with the aid of the data-carrieraccessing means 11, and the first content-type information CI1 or thesecond content-type information CI2 that can be fed to it.

In the case of the first content-type information CI1, the adjustingstage 21 is designed for receiving the first content-type informationCI1 from the receiving stage 20 and, for the purpose of generating theadjusting signal C, for processing the first content-type informationCI1. This is advantageous if the received signal S exhibits, in additionto the content signal CS, the first content-type information CI1, sothat immediately at the instant of receipt of the signal S, a decisioncan be made at the adjusting stage 21 as to whether the content signalCS currently received represents a content, the content type of whichcorresponds or does not correspond to the content-type selectioninformation CSI input with the aid of the data-carrier accessing means11, in the event that it does not correspond, the adjusting stage 21being designed for modifying the adjusting signal C until the state ofcorrespondence is reached.

For the purpose of feeding the second content-type information CI2, thedevice 1 is equipped with a communication stage 23, which is assigned toreceiving means 8 and which is designed for communicating with thecontent-type information database 6, and which is designed for feedingto the adjusting stage 21, as the result of a communication with thecontent-type information database 6, the second content-type informationCI2 supplied by the content-type information database 6. This isadvantageous if, in addition to the content signal CS, the receivedsignal S exhibits no first content-type information CI1, so that,immediately at the instant of receipt of the signal S, no decision canbe made at the adjusting stage 21 as to correspondence ornon-correspondence; for the purpose of decision-making, recourse maythen be had to the second content-type information CI2. To this end, theadjusting stage 21 is designed for recognizing the absence of the firstcontent-type information CI1 in the received signal S. The adjustingstage 21 is further designed for generating and for delivering therequest information RI to the communication stage 23, from which thesecond content-type information CI2 can be fed to it as the result of acommunication with the content-type information data source 6. In thiscase, the request information RI essentially represents the transmissionchannel currently received and, where applicable, a broadcasting stationidentifier contained in the received signal S.

However, irrespective of a currently received signal S, the adjustingstage 21 is designed for generating request information RI. In thiscase, request information RI relates to a transmission program plan ofone or more broadcasting stations. This gives rise to the advantage thatthe adjusting signal C can be planned ahead as regards the content-typeselection information CSI that can be input with the aid of thedata-carrier accessing means 11. The communication stage 23 is realizedwith the aid of a modem.

The receiving means 8 are further designed, taking account of thereminder information REM, for receiving a content signal CS whichrepresents a content, the content type of which corresponds to thecontent-type selection information CSI. To this end, the adjusting stage21 is designed for receiving reminder information REM from thedata-carrier accessing means 11, and for taking account of the reminderinformation REM in the generation of the adjusting signal C. Theadjusting stage 21 is designed for generating an adjusting signal C of akind such as to prevent, in a reliable manner, the receiving of acontent signal CS representing a content that corresponds to a part of atype of content represented by the reminder information REM which hasalready been received in the past with the aid of the content-typeselection information CSI stored on the data carrier 2. This gives riseto the advantage that a repeated reception of video films assigned to aspecific type of content, such as individual episodes of a series thathave already been received once in the past, can be prevented in areliable manner.

The operating mode of the device 1 is explained below with reference toan example of an application for the device 1 in accordance with FIG. 1.In accordance with this application example, let it be assumed that auser of the device 1 purchases in a shop a data carrier 2 in the form ofa DVD the pilot film of the television series “Kommissar Rex” withTobias Moretti in the main role being recorded on the data carrier 2between the third point P3 and the fourth point P4 along the track 12 ofthe data carrier 2. The identification-data area 13 contains informationfor identifying the data carrier 2 as a DVD and for identifying thepilot film and its position along the track 12. On the data carrier 2 isfurther stored, between the two identification data SI1 and SI2,content-type selection information CSI which represents the televisionseries “Kommissar Rex” as the type of content. Let us further assumethat the reminder-data area 15 exhibits no reminder information REM atthe time of purchase of the data carrier 2, since no receipt of a videofilm by the device 1 with the aid of the content-type selectioninformation CSI has yet taken place.

The data carrier 2 is made accessible to data-carrier accessing means 11by the user. Subsequently, a first optical scanning of the data carrier2 is undertaken by the data-carrier accessing means 11 in order to readout, in the form of readout information PI, the information foridentifying the data carrier 2 stored in the identification-data area12.

A method in accordance with the invention is then carried out by thedevice 1 in order to make available the content-type selectioninformation CSI stored in the data carrier 2; the method then exhibitsthe steps cited below: receipt of the content-type selection informationCSI that can be input with the aid of the inputting means 9 of thedevice 1, for the purpose of inputting content-type selectioninformation CSI, access being had, with the aid of the data-carrieraccessing means 11 of device 1, to the content-type selectioninformation CSI which is stored in the data carrier 2 made accessible tothe data-carrier accessing means 11. Access is then had to thecontent-type selection information CSI stored in the identification-dataarea 13 of the data carrier 2, which content-type selection informationCSI is restricted by the two identification data SI1 and SI2. When thecontent-type selection information CSI is accessed, this identificationdata SI1 and SI2 stored in the data carrier 2 is recognized by theaccess-control stage 16, and the access-control stage 16 subsequentlyextracts the content-type selection information CSI from the readoutinformation PI.

The content-type selection information CSI is then delivered from theaccess-control stage 16 to the adjusting stage 21 of the receiving means8. The adjusting stage 21 initially receives the first content-typeinformation CI1, which was received with the aid of transmission signalS, and checks whether the first content-type information CI1 correpondsto the content-type selection information CSI.

In the present case, let us assume that each of three differentbroadcasting stations broadcasts, in a transmission channel assigned toit, a transmission signal S, which can be fed to the receiving means 8of the device 1 with the aid of the reception-antenna configuration 10.FIG. 4 shows, for a first broadcasting station BS1 and for a secondbroadcasting station BS2 and for a third broadcasting station BS3, thestarting time of an episode from the television series “Kommissar Rex”each time along a time axis t. A first episode E1 of this televisionseries is entitled “Flucht in den Tod”. A second episode E2 is entitled“Der Tod der alten Dame”. A third episode is entitled “Tödliche Teddys”.The starting times of the broadcasting of each of the episodes E1 to E3are entered along the time axis t at the times T1 to T7. A repetition ofthe episodes E1 to E3 is identified with WE1 to WE3. Along the time axist are further entered five time phases, which are identified with D1 toD5 and which each mark one day.

Accordingly, a first broadcast of the first episode E1 is started by thefirst broadcasting station BS1 on the evening of the first day D1 at thetime T1. A broadcast of the repeat WE1 of the first episode E1 isstarted by this broadcasting station BS1 on the morning of the secondday D2, at the time T2. A broadcast of the second episode E2 of thistelevision series is started by the first broadcasting station BS1 atthe time T6 after a time span of three days, referred to the time T1 ofthe first episode E1.

A broadcast of the second episode E2 is started by the secondbroadcasting station BS2 at the time T3 on the evening of the second dayD2. A broadcast of the repeat WE2 of this second episode E2 is startedon the morning of the fourth day D4, at the time T5.

A broadcast of the first episode E1 is started by the third broadcastingstation BS3 at time T4 on the evening of the third day D3. A broadcastof the second episode E2 is started on the evening of the fourth day D4,at the time T6, and a broadcast of the third episode E3 is started onthe evening of the fifth day at the time T7.

At a time T0, the data carrier 2 is made accessible to the data-carrieraccessing means 11 of the device 1. At this time T0, the receiving stage20 is adjusted to receive the transmission signal S from thebroadcasting station BS1. Since, at this time T0, the first content-typeinformation CI1 transmitted by the broadcasting station BS1 along withthe transmission signal S does not correspond to the content-typeselection information CSI, request information RI is generated by theadjusting stage 21 and delivered to the communication station 23. Thecommunication stage 23 then communicates, via data network 7, with thecontent-type information data source 6 and, as the result of thiscommunication, feeds the second content-type information CI2 to theadjusting stage 21. The second content-type information CI2 exhibits theinformation that is needed at the adjusting stage 21 in order thatplanning can be undertaken for the adjusting signal C so that, with theaid of the receiving stage 20, a content signal CS can be received whichrepresents a content, the content type of which corresponds to thecontent-type selection information CSI. Specifically, all informationregarding the broadcasting station in question, BS1 to BS3, and thetimes in question, T1 to T7, is fed to the adjusting stage 21 with theaid of the content-type information CI2. Subsequently, a plan for theadjusting signal C is undertaken by the adjusting stage 21 as discussedbelow: at the time T1, the receiving stage 20 is adjusted in such a waythat the signal S broadcast by the first broadcasting station BS1 isreceived. Following this adjustment, at the time T3 the receiving stage20 is adjusted, as indicated by an arrow 25, so that the transmissionsignal S broadcast by the second broadcasting station BS2 is received.Following this adjustment, at the time T7 the receiving stage 20 isadjusted, as indicated by an arrow 26, so that the transmission signal Sbroadcast by the third broadcasting station BS3 is received.

Through the provision of this plan with the aid of the device 1 inaccordance with the invention, it is ensured that, without anyintervention on the user's part, the user is always supplied with thelatest episodes E1, E2 and E3 of the television series “Kommissar Rex”and that any reception of repeats WE1 to WE2 is suppressed, in thepresent case it being assumed that the data carrier 2 is not removedfrom the data-carrier accessing means 11 during the five days D1 to D5.It is further ensured that any reception of the broadcasts of theepisodes E1 and E2 taking place between the time T3 and the time T7 isprevented.

To deal with the eventuality that, for example at the time TOA, the datacarrier 2 is removed from the data-carrier accessing means 11, provisionis made in respect of device 1 for reminder information REM to be storedwithin the reminder-data area 15 of the data carrier 2 with the aid ofthe data-carrier accessing means 11, which reminder informationindicates that, in the past—at the time T1 in the present case—the firstepisode E1 entitled “Flucht in den Tod” has already been received by thedevice 1 with the aid of the content-type selection information CSIstored on the data carrier 2. It should be mentioned at this point thatprovision may also be made for the appropriate reminder information REMto be stored in the data carrier 2 immediately after or during or at thestart of the reception of one of the episodes E1 to E3.

To deal with the eventuality that, at the time TOB—i.e. before thebroadcasting of the repeat WE1 of the first episode E1 takes place atthe time T2—the data carrier 2 has again been made accessible to thedata-carrier accessing means 11, provision is made in the method inaccordance with the invention for making available the content-typeselection information CSI for access to be had to the—now alreadyavailable—reminder information REM. Owing to the data carrier 2 havingagain been made accessible, a new plan takes place at the adjustingstage 21 for adjusting the signal C by analogy with the procedurepreviously described. In the present case, however, the reminderinformation REM delivered by the access-control stage 16 to adjustingstage 21 is taken into account to the extent that the repetition WE1 ofthe first episode E1 is ignored at the time T2, and that the adjustingstage 20 is adjusted at the time T3 for receiving the transmissionsignal S assigned to the second broadcasting station BS2. The receivingstage 20 is further adjusted at the time T7 for receiving the signal Sassigned to the third broadcasting station BS3. It is thereby reliablyensured for the user that the uninteresting repetitions WE1 to WE3 ofthe individual episodes E1 to E3 are not received by the device 1; thishappens in an advantageous manner, even if the data carrier 2 is notmade accessible to data-carrier accessing means 11 in the meantime, thatis, during the time interval T0A to T0B in the present case.

Provision is further made in the device 1 for episodes E1, E2 or E3,received with the aid of content-type selection information CSI, to berecorded on the data carrier 2 at the wish of the user of the devicewith the aid of the data-carrier accessing means 11. To this end, thedevice 1 is controlled by the user of the device 1 in a recording modein a conventional manner once the data carrier 2 has been madeaccessible. In this recording mode, the recording-control signal RCS isdelivered to the data-carrier accessing means 11 by the adjusting stage21 if the content type assigned to the content of the received contentsignal CS corresponds to the content-type selection information CSI. Assoon as the access stage 16 of the data-carrier accessing means 11receives the recording-control signal RCS, the recording data RDgenerated with the aid of the signal/data conversion means 18 isdelivered to the optical scanning means of the data-carrier accessingmeans 11 in the form of the recording information WI and recorded by thescanning means within one of the free areas of the track 12 of the datacarrier 2 after the fourth point P4. In the present case an inputidentifying the episode recorded in each case is again noted in thereminder-data area 15 of the data carrier 2. Above all, this offers theuser the advantage that an archive of video films of only one sort asregards type of content can be built up on the data carrier 2.

The device 1 shown in FIG. 3 is realized by an audiorecording/reproduction device, which is designed for receiving andrecording or reproducing audio information, and for delivering audioinformation of this kind to reproducing means 10; in the present casereproducing means 10 are realized by a power amplifier with loudspeakersconnected to the power amplifier. By contrast with the device 1 shown inFIG. 1, the receiving stage 20 of the device 1 shown in FIG. 3 isdesigned for receiving a content signal CS via the data network 7. Inthe present case, the data network 7 is realized by a cable televisionnetwork via which television programs and radio programs andInternet-related data can be transmitted simultaneously. Thebroadcasting station 3 is connected to this data network 7 and isdesigned for broadcasting the content signal CS via the data network 7.

The device 1 is equipped with a hard disk that realizes the recordingmeans 24, which hard disk is designed for storing the recording data RDand for reproducing the reproduction data WD. The storage means 24realize the recording means 11B and are designed for receiving therecording-control signal RCS, as a result of which the recording on thehard disk of a content signal CS that can be received with the aid ofthe receiving means 8 can be undertaken in a controllable manner.

In the present case, the data-carrier accessing means 11 are designed ina contactless manner for accessing content-type selection informationCSI stored in the data carrier 2 for the purpose of inputting thecontent-type selection information CSI into device 1. The data-carrieraccessing means 11 are equipped for this purpose with an accessing-meansinterface which is designed for communicating with infrared light but isnot shown in FIG. 3.

In the present case, the data carrier 2 is realized with the aid of asemiconductor memory which is equipped with means for contactlesscommunication. To this end, the data carrier 2 is equipped with adata-carrier interface designed for communicating with infrared light,which is not shown in FIG. 3; this interface is designed for interactingwith the accessing-means interface.

In the present case too, this gives rise to the advantage that thecontent-type selection information CSI can be input by simply making thedata carrier 2 of the device 1 accessible to the data-carrier accessingmeans 11.

As a result of the design of the data carrier 2 in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the invention, the further advantage is obtainedthat this data carrier 2 can be of a relatively small and handy design,making it suitable as, for example, a key-fob, so that it can be usedboth domestically and also in a motor vehicle or in a portable device.This gives rise to the advantage for the user that the user can matchthe device designed for receiving a content signal CS to the user'sneeds, i.e. to a preferred type of content, in the easiest way possible.

In connection with the contactless communication, it can further bementioned that communication based on capacitive or inductive means canalso be provided.

It should be mentioned that, in the above embodiments, reference isalways made to a single item of content-type selection information CSIstored in a data carrier 2. Naturally, a plurality of these may also bestored on a data carrier 2. It can further be provided that thedata-carrier accessing means 11 may be designed for simultaneously orsequentially accessing a plurality of data carriers 2. In thisconnection, it can further be provided that the device 1 can offer theuser a selection option for selecting one of the plurality of items ofcontent-type selection information CSI stored on a single or on aplurality of data carriers 2.

It should further be mentioned that the reminder information REM mayalso contain reproduction information which indicates whether, or howoften, a video film currently recorded on the data carrier 2 has beenplayed back. In this connection, it may further be provided in respectof the device 1 that overwriting of a video film that has not yet beenplayed back is prevented. As a result, it is possible for a pool ofvideo films that is always kept up to date as regards its type ofcontent to be available on a data carrier 2; a selective overwriting ofvideo films may then take place, taking account of the reproductioninformation.

It should further be mentioned that the device 1 may be designed in acontrollable manner, depending on the content-type selection informationCSI that can be input to it, for matching its audio-reproductionresponse and/or its video-reproduction response to the particularcontent type and/or for supplying display options, such as special menuitems or links to Internet sites, if receiving means 8 receive a contentsignal CS that represents a content corresponding to the inputcontent-type selection information CSI.

It should further be mentioned that the device 1 may also be designed inaccordance with the requirements of a user for modifying thecontent-type selection information CSI stored in the data carrier 2 and,if applicable, the reminder information REM.

It should further be mentioned that the data carrier 2 may also berealized by a compact disk (CD) or by a semiconductor memory equippedwith electrical connections, and that the data-carrier accessing means11 may be designed for interacting with data carriers 2 of this kind.

It may further be mentioned that the measures taken in accordance withthe invention in a device 1 and a data carrier 2, and the method inaccordance with the invention, can be used for the protection ofchildren. This is the case especially if, in the presence ofcontent-type selection information CSI input by the data-carrieraccessing means 11, which is provided in the present example forselecting a child-friendly type of content, the receiving means 8 do notenable any receiving—including manually adjusted receiving—of a contentsignal CS representing a content that is not assigned to achild-friendly type of content.

1. A device (1), which is designed for processing a content signal (CS)that represents a content in accordance with a specific type of content,and is equipped with receiving means (8) which are designed in anadjustable manner for receiving, with the aid of content-type selectioninformation (CSI) enabling the selection of a type of content, thecontent signal (CS), that represents a content, the type of whichcorresponds to the content-type selection information (CSI), and isequipped with inputting means (9) which are designed for inputting thecontent-type selection information (CSI) for the purpose of adjustingthe receiving means (8), characterized in that the inputting means (9)contain data-carrier accessing means (11), that are designed to interactwith a data carrier (2) and, for the purpose of inputting thecontent-type selection information (CSI) into the device (1), aredesigned for accessing content-type selection information (CSI) storedin a data carrier (2) that can be made accessible to the data-carrieraccessing means (11).
 2. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the data-carrier accessing means (11) are designedfor recognizing identification data (SI1, SI2) stored on the datacarrier (2), which identification data (SI1, SI2) is provided foridentifying the content-type selection information (CSI).
 3. A device(1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the data-carrieraccessing means (11) are designed for accessing content-type selectioninformation (CSI) stored in an identification-data area (13) of the datacarrier (2), the identification-data area (13) being provided foridentifying the data carrier (2).
 4. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the data-carrier accessing means (11) are designedfor accessing reminder information (REM) assigned to content-typeselection information (CSI), which reminder information (REM) is stored,additionally to the content-type selection information (CSI), in a datacarrier (2) that can be made accessible to the data-carrier accessingmeans (11) and represents a part of a type of content, the part of thetype of content already having been received by the receiving means (8),using the content-type selection information (CSI), with the aid of acontent signal (CS) which represents a content, the content type ofwhich corresponded to the content-type selection information (CSI), andthat the receiving means (8) are designed for receiving, taking accountof the reminder information (REM), a content signal (CS), the contenttype of which corresponds to the content-type selection information(CSI).
 5. A device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thereceiving means (8) are equipped with a receiving stage (20) which isdesigned, in an adjustable manner, for receiving a content signal (CS)with the aid of an adjusting signal (C) that can be fed to it, and thatthe receiving means (8) are equipped with an adjusting stage (21) whichis designed for generating and delivering the adjusting signal (C) forthe receiving stage (20) with the aid of content-type selectioninformation (CSI) and content-type information (CI1, CI2) that can befed to it, the content-type information (CI1, CI2) representing acontent type of a content signal (CS) that can be received with the aidof the receiving stage (20).
 6. A device (1) as claimed in claim 5,characterized in that content-type information (CI1, CI2) can be fed tothe adjusting stage (21) with the aid of a content signal (CS) that canbe received.
 7. A device (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized inthat a communication stage (23) is assigned to the receiving means (8),which communication stage (23) is designed for communicating with acontent-type information data source (6), the content-type informationdata source (6) being provided for supplying content-type information(CI2), and which is designed for feeding content-type information (CI2)supplied by the content-type information data source (6) to theadjusting stage (21) as a result of a communication with thecontent-type information data source (6).
 8. A device (1) as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that recording means (11B) are provided, withthe aid of which, taking account of a recording control signal (RCS), arecording can be made in a controllable manner of a content signal (CS)that can be received with the aid of the receiving means (8), and thatthe receiving means (8) are designed for generating and delivering therecording control signal (RCS) to the recording means (11B) if thecontent type of the content of the content signal (CS) receivedcorresponds to the content-type selection information (CSI).
 9. A device(1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the recording means(11B) are realized by the data-carrier accessing means (11), and thatthe data-carrier accessing means (11) are designed for recording thecontent signal (CS) on a data carrier (2) that can be made accessible tothem.
 10. A data carrier (2), in which accessible information is stored,characterized in that at least parts of the stored information formcontent-type selection information (CSI) which, when the data carrier(2) is made accessible to data-carrier accessing means (11) of a device(1) for processing a content signal (CS), can be accessed with the aidof the data-carrier accessing means (11) for the purpose of inputtingthe content-type selection information (CSI) into the device (1).
 11. Adata carrier (2) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in thatidentification data (SI1, SI2) is stored in the data carrier (2), whichidentification data (SI1, SI2) is provided for identifying thecontent-type selection information (CSI).
 12. A data carrier (2) asclaimed in claim 10, characterized in that the content-type selectioninformation (CSI) is stored in an identification-data area (13) of thedata carrier (2), which identification-data area (13) is provided foridentifying the data carrier (2).
 13. A data carrier (2) as claimed inclaim 10, characterized in that the data carrier (2) is equipped with areminder-data area (15) which is provided for storing reminderinformation (REM) which represents a part of a type of content of acontent signal (CS), the part of the type of content already having beenreceived in the past, with the aid of the content-type selectioninformation (CSI), by the receiving means (8), with the aid of a contentsignal (CS) which represents a content, the content type of whichcorresponded to the content-type selection information (CSI).
 14. Amethod for making available content-type selection information (CSI) ina device (1) for processing a content signal (CS) that represents acontent that is assigned to a specific content type, the methodcomprising the following steps: receipt of content-type selectioninformation (CSI) which can be input with the aid of inputting means (9)on the device (1), a content signal (CS) being receivable in anadjustable manner by receiving means (8) on the device (1) with the aidof content-type selection information (CSI) that can be input, whichcontent signal (CS) represents a content, the type of which correspondsto the content-type selection information (CSI), characterized in that,for the purpose of inputting the content-type selection information(CSI) with the aid of the data-carrier accessing means (11) of thedevice (1), content-type selection information (CSI), stored in a datacarrier (2) that can be made accessible to the data-carrier accessingmeans (11), is accessed.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 14,characterized in that, when the content-type selection information (CSI)is accessed, identification data (SI1, S12) stored in a data carrier(2), which identification data is provided for identifying thecontent-type selection information (CSI), is recognized.
 16. A method asclaimed in claim 14, characterized in that content-type selectioninformation (CSI) stored in an identification-data area (13) of the datacarrier (2) is accessed the identification-data area (13) being providedfor identifying the data carrier (2).
 17. A method as claimed in claim14, characterized in that reminder information (REM) is accessed, whichreminder information (REM) represents one part of a type of content, thepart of the type of content already having been received, using thecontent-type selection information (CSI), with the aid of a contentsignal (CS) which represents a content, the content type of whichcorresponded to the content-type selection information (CSI).